FC Dallas U14 member Abby-Grace Cooper excited to attend girls national team camp

FC Dallas U14 member Abby-Grace Cooper excited to attend girls national team camp

As two FC Dallas Academy alumni on the boys side get ready to represent their country at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup, one of FCD's most talented young female players is just starting out her youth national team career.

Midfielder Abby-Grace Cooper, a member of Matt Grubb's under-15 FC Dallas ECNL squad, recently wrapped up a week with head coach April Kater's US Under-14 Girls National Team. Cooper was called up for the eight-day camp, the first for this youngest group of youth national teamers, and she couldn't have been more excited to make the squad/

"I was surprised but in an excited way," said Cooper. "I have worked very hard and I think I deserved the chance. I just didn't expect it to be in the early part of the year."

Just at the start of her budding youth national team career, Cooper says these camps show her exactly the level she needs to attain to represent her country.

"It raises my game, because it gives me a look into the top level of play in the country," said Cooper. "It gives me bench marks to work at and bring back to my club. I learned that if you have the skill that's great, but if you don't have the passion and drive you will not go very far. I do know that I have the passion and the desire to work hard toward the goal of the US National Team."